Map of the Solomon Islands

Operation Helpem Fren, also known as the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), was created in response to a request for international aid by the Governor General of the Solomon Islands. Solomon Islands map (modified from PCL map collection Courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin. ... Solomon Islands map (modified from PCL map collection Courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin. ...

Causes for Unrest

The Solomon Islands Government was perceived by Islanders as being corrupt, as well as neglecting outer regions of the island group, focusing most of its resources on Guadalcanal. Small armed militant groups gained a significant following and civil unrest grew. The most significant of these groups was the Malata Eagle Force, led by Jimmy Rasta. Guadalcanal, a 2,510 square mile (6,500 km²) island in the Pacific Ocean and a province of the Solomon Islands, is largely a jungle. ...

International Response

A seizable international security contingent of 2,200 police, and troops, led by Australia and New Zealand, and with representatives from about 20 other Pacific nations began arriving from the 24 July.

Mr James Batley assumed the role of Special Coordinator as leader of RAMSI and advisor to the Solomon Islands Government. Major contributing nations to RAMSI include Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga.

Military personnel provide security, material and logistical assistance to police forces assisting the Solomon Islands Government in the restoration of law and order. From November 2003, the military component was reduced, as stability gradually returned to the country.

In the early hours of 22 December 2004, Australian Protective Service Officer Adam Dunning was ambushed and killed while on a routine vehicle patrol with another officer in Honiara. Within 24 hours, a rifle company group from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment was flown into the Solomon Islands.

In early January 2005, a joint operation between the Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP) and Participating Police Force (PPF) resulted in the arrest of James Tatau. Tatau was charged with Dunning's murder, the attempted murder of his colleague, and an earlier shooting incident on a Participating Police Force (PPF) vehicle, in which a bullet narrowly missed two PPF officers.

After the arrest, the military presence within RAMSI was again reduced. As of 2005, the five troop-contributing nations (Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga) together provide approximately 40 personnel to support the PPF.

The PPF currently comprises police officers from 11 Pacific nations: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Kiribati and Tuvalu.